Nora Connolly

Seventeen

Nora Connolly

She’d never been hit with that much force from anything before. It was like a gale force wind knocking her to the ground. She felt it when she hit the ground too, all through her body, so that when she picked herself up she ached a little.

“Are you okay?” Roman asked, as he used his big, strong hands to help her stand.

Nora was shaking. The wind had knocked her out, and Glinda stood looking at her like she was appraising her in a new light. Nora took a deep breath. “I’m bad, aren’t I?”

Glinda made a face. “The building let you in.”

“So?” said Roman, who was holding her close to his chest, she realized for the first time. “What does that mean?”

“If you think just the loft is magical, The Emerald is made up of hundreds upon hundreds of rooms. All filled with witches and magical beings. The building knows when to protect itself so it’s strange that the building let you in, but the loft won’t.”